Black Lives Matter / Justice for George Floyd rally - Police challenged over handling of Derry event

Lilian Seenoi Barr, director of programmes at the North West Migrants Forum said that social distancing was adhered to and every precaution possible taken prior to and during the rally in Guildhall Square on Saturday afternoon.

A total of 57 fines were issued by police at the protest in Derry, and 14 more fines or CRNS were issued in Belfast, for what the PSNI said were breaches of health protection regulations. Both marches went ahead despite calls from official quarters for them to be called off in light of the coronavirus safeguarding restrictions currently in place.

Lilian Seenoi Barr told the ‘Journal’ yesterday that she had been visited by police on Friday and cautioned to call it off, but said that there was such strength of feeling among the local black and ethnic minority communities and those who wished to stand in solidarity with them to register their opposition to racist attacks that it was deemed important the event go ahead.

“There was a big crowd and everybody was social distancing,” she said. “They were all wearing masks and taking safety measures.

“People wanted to raise awareness that this was not just an American issue and that racism exists in our own society here.”

She said the horrific death of George Floyd had been very, very painful for members of the black and ethnic minority communities as it triggered first hand experiences of racist abuse and crime they have been subjected to. And, Ms. Seenoi Barr said, there was also discontent at police handling of those crimes.

Pointing to the 936 racist incidents in NI recorded by the PSNI in its latest annual report, with 626 racist crimes, Ms. Seenoi Barr questioned how many were investigated with the same vigour with which police issued fines and cautions in Derry.

“They don’t address the issues we are raising,” she claimed. “I wish the police who were coming to disrupt people in Guildhall Square, that that was how they responded to every incident when our members are subjected to racist attack, when people’s houses are painted with graffiti to ‘get out’ of their country and ‘these homes are for local people’.”

If police had joined the rally they would have shown the organisation cares about the issues facing black and ethnic minority communities, she said.

She also queried why police were nowhere to be seen at a publicised Black Lives Matter rally last week in the Bogside organised by a different group which attracted over 250 people, and have not acted in the same way at other large scale gatherings. “Why did they apply the law differently there?” she asked.

Numerous messages, she added, had been relayed prior to the rally from the organisers, that only those who were fit and able to do so should attend and that those who were taking part should wear face masks and social distance and bring hand sanitiser. Face masks and hand sanitiser were also provided at the event for those without their own, and those who gathered were reminded every ten minutes to social distance and protect each other.

Ms. Seenoi Barr pointed out that among those attending were local people who worked in the health and care sector and other frontline workers who felt it was vital the rally went ahead.

Derry and Strabane People Before Profit Councillor Shaun Harkin, who also spoke at the rally, meanwhile claimed: “Derry stood with the Black Lives Matter rebellion and people of colour in Ireland.

“I attended, spoke and helped organise the rally with many others. The political establishment parties sent the PSNI to criminalise the black organisers of the protest and everyone who attended.”

PSNI Assistant Chief Constable Alan Todd last night said the rallies in Derry and Belfast proceeded contrary to the current Health Protection Regulations.

He said: “We were very clear in our messaging ahead of the protests – that people should not attend them. Had we not done this, we believe that thousands could have turned up – making social distancing impossible and increasing the risk of spreading the virus.

“No arrests were made in either city but 71 fines and CRNs were handed out for breaches. A number of individuals will now be reported to the Public Prosecution Service with a view to prosecution. It should be noted that the police’s job is to identify offences when they are committed: it is the role of the PPS to decide if prosecutions should take place.”

He added that in other times police would have worked “with the organisers and protestors to facilitate a lawful and peaceful protest to mark the avoidable and unnecessary death of George Floyd, however, these are not ordinary times”.

Meanwhile the Unity of Purpose Group in Derry, which consists of local MPs, MLAs, the Mayor and statutory and business leaders, had urged the organisers to call it off. The group said: “We want to ensure that frontline workers are not put under more pressure from the potential spread of this deadly virus via mass gatherings, and people moving through the city to go to and from such events. Let’s find another way of supporting this very worthy cause.”

Local DUP Alderman David Ramsey hit out at those who attended the protests in what he claimed was a “total disregard” for law and order.